This year, in 2012, the sun enters the constellation Ophiuchus on November 29, at 18 Universal Time (12 noon CST).

The ecliptic — which translates on our sky’s dome as the sun’s annual path in front of the background stars — actually passes through 13 constellations, although this is not commonly known. After all, when you read the horoscope in the daily newspaper or a monthly magazine, you see only 12 constellations, or signs, mentioned. No one ever claims to be an Ophiuchus. There are the 12 traditional zodiacal constellations. But the sun passes through Ophiuchus as surely as it does the others.